The Charlotte Jewish News - June-July, 1997 - Page 3
Jewish world mourns death
of Chaim Herzog
On April 17, former Israeli
President Chaim Herzog died
from complications of pneumonia.
He was 78.
A native of Ireland, Herzog was
remembered and saluted around
the world as one who played a
major role in the founding of the
Jewish state.
Herzog served as a British
officer in World War II and was
present at the Nazi surrender in
1945. Later, in Israel, he fought
in Israel's 1948 War of
Independence, and later became
the first head of the intelligence
branch of the Israeli army.
In addition to his military
career, Herzog also served Israel
in many government capacities,
including military governor of the
West Bank in 1967, U.N.
Ambassador in the the 70's, and
member of the Knesset in the
'80's. He served as Israel's sixth
president from 1983 to 1993.
The author of numerous books,
his works include a history of the
Six Day War, "Israel's Finest
Hour," and an account of the Yom
Kippur War, "The War of
Atonement." In his most recent
work he wrote, "I pray that my
children and grandchildren will
see a strong and vigorous Israel at
peace with its neighbors and
continuing to represent the
traditions that have sustained our
people throughout the ages. I wish
for a world in which Israel
vindicates its promise to be a
'light unto the nations.'"
Herzog is survived by a wife,
two sons and a daughter. O
Istook bill a threat to
religious freedom
NJDC asks Democrats to opose measure
WASHINGTON, DC — Rep.
Ernest Istook, a Republican from
Oklahoma, announced on May 8
that he was introducing a
constitutional amendment to
allow organized prayer and
religious practice in public
schools and on government
property.
"Congressman Istook's amend
ment is a wolf in sheep's clothing
when it comes to protecting
religious liberty," charges NJDC
Executive Director Ira N.
Forman. "Mr. Istook's bill is
nothing more than a counterfeit. If
his bill is passed, religious
freedom will need to be protected
from its self-proclaimed pro
tectors."
"Block by block. Mr. Istook and
his allies in the radical right
continue their efforts to dismantle
the wall separating church and
state. Like in previous years, the
1997 Istook amendment is drafted
to sound innocuous — as if to
correct a wrong suffered by
people of faith. To some it will
sound innocent. Mr. Istook's
amendment is nothing more than
a naked attempt to undermine
religious tolerance in the United
States. Make no mistake — this
constitutional amendment would
allow the fox to roam freely in the
henhouse.
"Under the guise of securing
the right to acknowledge G-d, Mr.
Istook is seeking to dump over
200 years of constitutional
jurisprudence that guarantees
both freedom of religion and
freedom from state-sponsored
religion.
"In only 52 words, Mr. Istook
has launched the latest assault by
the radical right on the U.S.
Constitution and on religious
minorities. This attack not only
threatens the rights of religious
minorities and those who do not
practice a religion. It also
perpetrates a fraud in that the bill
implies that private religious
practice, even in public places or
public schools, is currently
unlawful. In fact, whether in
public schools or in other
government facilities, prayer and
religious practice are allowed.
"But religion must thrive
without government endorsement
or excessive government
entanglement. This is the best
formula for maintaining the
tenuous constitutional balance
that both protects religious
freedom and bars state-sponsored
religion.
"Mr. Istook and his allies seek
to destroy that balance.
"We will fight this amendment
every step of the way in the
Congress, the state legislatures
and at the ballot box." O
Jewish Federation of Greater
Charlotte holds annual meeting
The Jewish Federation of
Greater Charlotte held its annual
meeting at Temple Israel on May
8, 1997. Chaired by President
Rich Osborne, the evening
included an update by Bill
Gorelick and Jill Newman on the
very successful campaign that
was just concluded. Noting that
the campaign raised an all-time
high of $1,572 million dollars,
Mr. Gorelick and Mrs. Newman
thanked the lay and professional
staff as well as the community at
large for their committment to
Jewish survival.
Mr. Osborne and Marvin Mayor Pat McCwry spoke about his recent tnp to Israel at the annual
Goldberg, Executive Director of ‘ meeting of the Jewish Federation of Greater Charlotte on May 8.
the JFGC recognized the
outstanding contributions over the last year of several members of
the Federation, including Adam
Bernstein, Donald and Bobbi
Bernstein, Ruth Goldberg, Bill
Gorelick, Stacy Gorelick, Ed
Newman, Jill Newman, Phyllis
Schiffman and Bob Speizman.
Also recognized were outgoing
Federation Board members Ben
Jaffa, Milt Tager, Gary Silverstein
and Diane Schwartz. Lou
Wemick was also recognized for
his work as Special Projects
Coordinator for the Jewish
Federation of Greater Charlotte.
Pat McCrory, mayor of
Charlotte, gave the keynote
address. He spoke of his
1997 Campaign Chairs Jill Newman and Bill Gorelick annotmced a expenences on a recent Mayor’s
record-breaking campaign total of $1,572 million Mission to Israel. O
State of Israel Bonds
Offers Reinvestment
For Matured Bonds
TSRAELRONDS
NEW YORK — State of
Israel Bonds/ Development
Corporation for Israel has
announced new reinvestment
opportunities for matured
bonds.
Effective immediately,
matured 4% bonds will be
accepted for direct
reinvestment into Zero Coupon
Bonds. In addition, matured
State of Israel Variable Rate
Issue (VRI) bonds will be
allowed to be directly
reinvested in Economic
Development Issue (EDI)
bonds.
State of Israel Bonds/
Development Corporation for
Israel is an international
organization offering securities
issued by the government of
Israel. Since the first bond was
sold in 1952, Israel Bonds has
secured more than $17 billion
in investment capital for the
development of every aspect of
Israel's economy, including
agriculture, commerce and
industry. Throughout its
history, Israel has maintained a
perfect record on the payment
of principal and interest on the
securities it has issued. Israel
Bonds proceeds play a major
role in absorbing Jews from the
former Soviet Union, Ethiopia
and elsewhere and in providing
crucial financial resources to
Israel for a new era of promise
and opportunity.
For more information
contact The Development
Corporation for Israel / State
of Israel Bonds. O
100th Anniversary of
Zionism
In late August, Israelis, and
Jews around the world will be
recalling the first Zionist
Congress held in Basel,
Switzerland, on August 31, 1897.
At the climax of the congress,
Zionism's founder, Theodor Herzl
wrote in his diary, "Today I
founded the Jewish State. If I
were to say this out loud, I would
be greeted with universal
laughter. But in 5 years, certainly
in 50, it will be true. " Herzl died
in 1904, but 50 years and 228
days after his diary entry, David
Ben Gurion declared the creation
of the State of Israel at a
ceremony at Tel Aviv's Museum
of Art. TTie Zionism Centenary is
encouraging various tour
organizers to offer various
packages highlighting sites and
places associated with the rebirth
of Israel — as well as tours
combining Israel with
Switzerland.
50th Of The State Of Israel
In October 1997, Israel will
begin a year-long celebration of
its Golden Anniversary. The
jubilee year will be marked by an
ambitious series of concerts,
festivals, firework displays and
gatherings climaxing with the
massive celebrations on the
anniversary itself which falls on
April 30, 1998. ^
ANN LANGMAN
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